What to make of all of these spring football injuries?

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 21, 2009 8:00 AM PDT

Coaches often shake off injuries in March and April as part of the vagaries of holding practices at a time of year when guys aren't really in 100 percent football shape. While they obviously don't like injuries, they also tend not to get too worked up about them since the vast majority are usually completely healed by the time camp rolls around in August.

But when a team can barely field healthy first and second squads for the purposes of drills and scrimmages -- and taken in the context of the nearly legendary amount of injuries last fall -- when is it OK to start wondering if we have a larger problem in the program?

Much has been made of how much more physical the Cougars have been during spring practices, and that undoubtedly has been a major goal of the coaching staff, which not-so-subtly implied that last year's team just wasn't tough enough. They have repeatedly sent a clear message: Get tough, or get gone.

But there's a fine line between preaching toughness and physicality and pushing 18- to 23-year-old bodies beyond what they're physically capable of.

It's no secret that Paul Wulff has demanded more of the Cougars than was asked under Bill Doba. However, I've talked to some WSU insiders who were close to the program in the days of Mike Price and Doba and who spent some time around Wulff's team last fall, and they walked away not just surprised, but shocked at just how hard Wulff pushed his players.

In discussing the sad state of the team, they said there was absolutely no doubt in their minds that the high rate of injuries was directly tied to Wulff overworking his team. One insider said, "That stuff might work at Eastern, but these are Division I athletes -- you just can't run them into the ground like he does." One even went so far as to imply that it bordered on abuse.

Wulff would tell you that his tactics were simply an effort to eradicate the soft culture cultivated during the Doba years. I tend to agree with Wulff in that respect, having witnessed the general lack of discipline around the program both on and off the field. I even mentally dismissed the insider at the time of our conversation as part of that culture.

But now, I'm not so sure. After just a couple of weeks of spring practices, the injuries have once again piled up to staggering heights. And while I know that some of it is probably a matter of perception because of just the overall lack of depth in the program, there's still something in the back of my mind that just can't get away from what that insider said six months ago.

I'm not ready to blame Wulff full steam ahead for this latest wave -- after all, a quick Google search of "spring practice injuries" reveals this -- but I honestly believe this is something that is going to bear watching heading into September. If that injured list starts getting long in August once again, it might be time to seriously question just what's going on out on that practice field.

After all, what good does being tougher and more physical do you if a school with already limited talent can't get that talent out on the field? This team isn't USC, with yet another 5-star recruit ready to jump into the lineup.

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Injuries

First, the program is at a sort of cross road.

Under Price and Doba our conditioning went down hill. Won’t go into the details here but it is reasonable to state that when Coach W came on board, we were in “terrible shape”.

So, yes, it is a culture shock to the remaining players, having to actually do conditioning work on a regular basis. And, perhaps it is a “shock” to some observers, after all your insiders may just be the same as those who let the program get to this sorry physical state. Just what makes them qualified to judge if they were part of the problem ?

Break the injuries down by class please. That will provide additional insight. And also, break the injuries down by new or re of old. And, also, break the “injuries” down by players rehabing from off season surgery, due to an ON FIELD injury last season.

Only then can you / I start to make some reasonable sense of what is going on. Until this sort of analysis happens, I am not concerned, my only concern is for Coach W having to deal with such a rebuilding. I would add that in addition, Coach has had to deal with WAY to many off field incidents – this is another area that needs to be changed and I believe Coach is working on this as well.

Buy in or leave !

by Steptoe Fan on Apr 21, 2009 10:17 AM PDT reply actions

I honestly don't have the ability to do that

I wish I did, because I think that would bring some clarity to the issue. That’s why I mostly hedged my conclusion with the caveat that it’s just something that I think bears watching moving forward. Perhaps Vince will look into it further if this continues, because he would have the necessary access to do so.

If truly it’s a matter of bringing the conditioning level up to a point that their bodies can withstand the rigors of Pac-10 football, then I would think we would see the fruits of that in the fall with fewer injuries.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 21, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Steptoe, are you PW's next door neighbor.

Don’t group Price and Doba. Doba did just fine the 1st year after MP left. We fought through injuries and guys were tough. I certainly don’t disagree there has been a softening of players during the Doba era, but honestly I don’t know if it was conditioning (by the way Oviatt is and was a great strength coach) or it was simply Doba being too lenient on players.

by ptowncoug3012 on Apr 21, 2009 12:17 PM PDT reply actions

I was wondering about all the injuries too....

but it didn’t seem to compute when I considered the accolades about the strength and conditioning coach and all the positive stuff I kept hearing about the coaching staff as a whole.

The injury situation is something that sticks out right now, for whatever reason. I’m concerned but don’t know if I should be. Is it like this at other schools?

by SW WA Coug on Apr 21, 2009 12:43 PM PDT reply actions

No, wish I waz though

but I will group Price with Doba : To the extent that Price recruited athletes that were in better shape to start with or had “some” work ethic, I think he ( P ) started taking his eyes off of off season conditioning. So, Oviatt is soooo great, why is he gone ? Don’t give me the official line, it is the reality of what has happened to our overall team conditioning that speaks to why he is gone.

Bring your WORK ethic, Buy in or leave !

by Steptoe Fan on Apr 21, 2009 12:44 PM PDT reply actions

I will add this

Under the heading of “lazy journalism”.

This article as intended, approaches a subject that is very current and has considerable reader interest potential.

Given that, I am of the opinion that is better to not write such an article if you don’t have all the facts, or state that you intend to get them and will add a second installment within the next 48 hours.

Look at this article again. Where is the meat ? What really has the author added that I didn’t know ( as a die hard Coug ) already ?

And, know that I understand that some other “author” wrote an article and thus someone here felt persuaded to add 2 cents. Well, then, add 2 cents and the other 98 !
I think I could dig out these missing facts, if I were the author.

Does that mean the author is “terrible” ? No ! Does it mean that the author is not “qualified” ? No ! A little lazy and having a deadline to meet ? Maybe .

by Steptoe Fan on Apr 21, 2009 12:57 PM PDT reply actions

You're certainly entitled to your opinion

But I’ll respectfully disagree.

First of all, I’m not a journalist in the classical sense on this site. The nature of blogging is different than what a guy like Vince Grippi does, or what I did in my previous career. What we do as bloggers is notice stuff, formulate an opinion on that stuff that often includes potential explanations, and put it out there for community consumption and discussion — food for thought, if you will.

Are Wulff’s practices really that much more physical or demanding? I don’t know, because I don’t get to watch them. What I do know is that we could barely field a team last fall, and we can barely field a team this spring. That’s not normal. In this case, I was simply pointing out what could be construed as the beginning of a trend. I said I would reserve judgment until the fall, but noted that it’s something to keep an eye on. In that sense, I don’t think I overvalued the source — although, the source is someone who has been around the WSU program a very long time (like decades). So I decided to put at least a little bit of stock in what this person said to try and get a little perspective on what might be happening. Perhaps this intense work really pays off in the fall and we see a drop in injuries. Perhaps it doesn’t. That’s why I pointed it out as something to keep an eye on.

If you can dig out the missing facts, I would love it if you’d contribute to the community by doing so. I don’t have any more access than you do. For all I know, since I don’t know you, you might have more access than I do. If that’s the case, I’d love to have that info.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 21, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

An interesting note to take..

how many of these injuries are coming from Wulff’s recruits (i.e. recruits that never conditioned with Doba). I see these guys at work every week and at first I laughed to myself because they really didn’t look like football players, but now, it is so easy to spot them in the crowd. They look like football players now.

by james_WSU on Apr 21, 2009 1:14 PM PDT reply actions

here is what I can do

I will cut the questions I asked in my original response and paste them into an email and send it to Coach W.

If he is able to respond, I will either forward the email to you or post it here, in the comments section, as you wish.

I say a reasonable time for a response is two weeks, I know the staff is pretty busy for this next week.

What do you think ?

I should add, my complaint is born out of the articles, opinions, blogs, postings, whatever you call them, that I see on many “sites”, and I do enjoy your ( and other ) opinions.

by Steptoe Fan on Apr 21, 2009 3:12 PM PDT reply actions

Sounds like a plan

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Apr 21, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I would love to see PW's answer to this question.

By the way, here is a press release from www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072508aad.html
Director of Athletics Jim Sterk announced today.
“This was an excruciating decision professionally, but an easy one personally,” said Oviatt, who plans to stay in Pullman and dedicate more time to his family. “I want to thank Jim Sterk and (Senior Associate Athletic Director) Pam Bradetich for their significant help and support during this process, as well as the entire physical development staff at Washington State University. I also especially want to thank the student-athletes for their commitment and sacrifices. They destroy the myth that kids nowadays aren’t willing to work. They’ll do anything you ask as long as they know you sincerely care about them and see that they are physically improving.”
Oviatt began at Washington State March 14, 2000, when he was named the Cougars’ Director of Physical Development, overseeing WSU’s 17 varsity sports programs. He was appointed Assistant Athletic Director for Physical Development in 2004.
“Rob has been an integral part of Washington State athletics for the past nine years and has made a tremendous impact on the student-athletes he has been associated with during that time,” said Sterk. “His commitment to the student-athlete is at the forefront of his thoughts and the improvement of WSU’s athletic programs over the past decade can be attributed to his guidance.”
A 2003 inductee into the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame, Oviatt was elected president of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association at the 2004 CSCCA convention.
“I will continue my lifelong commitment of doing anything I can to further the strength and conditioning profession as well as our professional organization,” Oviatt said.
In 2001 Oviatt received the CSCCA’s highest honor, being named the master strength and conditioning coach at the organization’s annual convention. Oviatt has also received the Ulysses S. Grant Sharp Award at the 2003 Holiday Bowl luncheon, voted on by the WSU players.
He also serves on the association’s Board of Directors, and was appointed to the Board of Advisors for the Taylor Hooton Foundation for Fighting Steroid Abuse in 2003.
“This fall I am going to decompress from 27 straight years of a regimented schedule, travel and spend some quality time with family and friends,” said Oviatt. “I have been very fortunate in my professional career and benefited from the help of countless people along the way. More importantly, I have built relationships that will last forever.”
Oviatt began his career as a volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Alabama from 1978-79, during the tenure of legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. He went on to serve as a volunteer assistant for strength and conditioning at the University of Mississippi from 1981-83, serving as a weightlifting instructor in the physical education department.
He went on to Texas A&M in 1983, working as a graduate assistant strength coach, and then filled the same position at the University of Houston in 1984.
Oviatt became the coordinator of strength and conditioning for all sports at Oregon State in 1985, and remained with the Beavers until 1995. In June of 1988 Oviatt toured Russia and Czechoslovakia with a group of American strength coaches.
In 1995 Oviatt moved on to the University of Kentucky, where he served as the coordinator for football strength and conditioning. During his tenure with Kentucky, which lasted until 1998, Oviatt was twice named the Southeastern Conference’s strength coach of the year, voted on by the league’s strength coaches.
Oviatt went to Louisiana State in 1999, serving as the coordinator for strength and conditioning for all sports until 2000, when he started with WSU.
Oviatt, a native of Wooster, Ohio, earned his bachelor’s in physical education in 1980 from Alabama, and received a master’s of science in exercise science from Mississippi in 1982.

by ptowncoug3012 on Apr 21, 2009 9:55 PM PDT reply actions

Sorry for the long excerpt, but c'mon

get off Oviatt. Maybe check out the facts first. Yeah Bear Bryant was a softy when it came to conditioning. 2 time SEC strength coach of the year! That’s nothing. Let’s remember that when Oviatt arrived in 3/2000 he was part of one of the best stretches in Coug football history and I never heard anyone voicing a complaint about our toughness.
Nuss, is just pointing out an obvious fact. Where there is smoke there is often fire. Nothing wrong in getting a whiff and opining as to what may be the cause.

by ptowncoug3012 on Apr 21, 2009 9:59 PM PDT reply actions